Pete Gibson

Musician Pete Gibson – Solo Cornet

Pete only graduated from the Royal Marines School of Music last year and as well as performing in gigs up and down the country he’s part of the team at 5 days’ notice to provide medical support to operations on board RFA Argus in the RN Hospital facility at sea.

"I joined the Royal Marines Band after seeing an advertisement stand at a brass band contest - I was brought up in brass bands from the age of 10 and joined the Royal Marines at 16.

"As a solo cornet player I play trumpet as well, which means I’ll be involved in concert band, orchestra, marching band, function band, big band and also brass ensembles.

"Some of the most high profile gigs that I’ve been a part of are Silverstone Grand Prix, Horse Guards Parade, Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall and various air shows across the country.

"Through the Royal Marines Band I’m taking part in the BMus Honours degree which is completely free to me, funded by the Navy.

"A career in the Royal Marines Band offers great musical and sporting opportunities."

Ward support to Emergency Department - tasks include being a runner to collect and deliver bloods from the on board lab, safely disposing of used clinical equipment.

"As part of the PCRF we are casualty handlers which mean we collect the casualties from either the helicopters or boats that come alongside. We bring them in on a stretcher, transfer them over to a bed, search them for any weapons any personal belongings and transfer them down into the Emergency Department in the PCRF we then transfer down into different departments.

"It’s very different to what we normally do in our day job but I think it’s a really good thing for the band to do. I think everyone enjoys it, it’s a challenge doing shift work because that’s quite different to our day job, but doing 6 to 12 hour shifts you start to feel the tiredness as well as getting used to life on board ship."